Two big innings help Tallmadge win OHSAA softball state championship

The Tallmadge Blue Devils are the 2023 Division II softball state champions.

Tallmadge won its eighth title Saturday afternoon with a dominating 9-0 win over Canfield at Firestone Stadium in Akron.

The Blue Devils (26-8) took control of the game in the fourth inning with five runs and then scored four more runs in the fifth.

All nine runs were scored with two outs, much to the delight of Tallmadge's large crowd.

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Junior ace Riley Jackson was impressive in the circle while pitching a shutout. She struck out one, walked two and limited the Cardinals (24-3) to two hits.

“We came ready to roll,” Tallmadge coach Brittany Lightel said. “We had no doubts. I had no doubts. We have seen that team before. I know when we put the ball in play, we make things happen. I have said it before, when Riley is on the rest of us are on. She was feeling it today, and the hits just came rolling in.”

Senior Jocelyn Caffelle led off the five-run fourth with a single to right and sophomore Gabby Harp entered to run. Senior Marley Queen laid down a sacrifice bunt and sophomore Katie Huth grounded out.

With two outs, junior Ashlyn Severns walked, senior Emma Garbinsky and junior Mia Zappola each hit an RBI single and junior Sydney Becks smacked a three-run inside-the-park home run down the left-field line.

“Rounding first, Seek [first base coach Ed Seeker] was telling me, ‘Go two,’” Becks said. "And then once I turned I saw all of them were running to the [left field] corner, I was like, ‘I gotta keep going.’ Then, I look at you [Lightel] and you are telling me, ‘Go, go, go!’ I am like, ‘OK, maybe I will stop at three.’ You send me, and I am like, 'OK, I am going all the way.’”

Lightel smiled and added, "I was sending her. As soon as she stepped on second and they are still running after the ball I knew I was sending her home. With her speed, I wasn't going to stop her."

Caffelle started Tallmadge’s four-run fifth by reaching base on a fielding error. Queen struck out, Huth hit a single and Severns lined out to left field.

Once again with two outs, Garbinsky and Zappola came through with run-scoring hits as Garbinsky roped a double and Zappola smacked a single. Becks contributed an RBI single, and Zappola scored the final run of the inning on a throwing error.

“I feel like we all stepped up and we all were seeing the ball," Garbinsky said. "I always have a ton of confidence in my team to where I know if I am not hitting the ball my team is going to back me up. Today, everyone was just hitting the ball. It was great.”

Said Jackson: “It is a lot easier when we have the runs and we are up. It is better when we are scoring. It takes the pressure off and it makes it a lot easier to pitch.”

Queen caught the final out of the game in left field to set off a massive celebration.

“It is awesome to win a state championship here, especially since we have our whole town supporting us," Queen said. "Everyone is rooting for us so we know they have our backs. Even if we get down, they are there to pick us up. It is also nice because we have played on this field before. We know what we are getting into. Firestone is the place we want to play ever since we were little. It is awesome to finally experience the full effect with everyone here.”

Canfield junior Malena Toth pitched 4⅔ innings, struck out six and allowed nine runs (five earned) on nine hits and two walks. Senior Bella Kennedy struck out one and allowed two hits and one walk over 2⅓ innings.

What is Tallmadge's history in the OHSAA softball state tournament?

Tallmadge made its 16th state tournament appearance in softball.

The first seven Tallmadge teams to win state championships were in Class AAA in 1981 and 1987, in Class AA in 1988 and 1989 and in Division II in 1993, 1997 and 1998.

Dave Harris coached the 1981 team, Roger Howard coached the 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1993 teams and Don Duffy coached the 1997 and 1998 teams.

The Blue Devils were state runners-up in Class AAA in 1983 and in Division II in 1990 and 1995.

Lightel was a sophomore on Tallmadge’s 2009 Division II state semifinal team and her sister, Kirsten Lightel, was a senior on Tallmadge’s 2014 Division II state semifinal team. Seeker was the coach of both of those teams.

"I am so happy for them," Brittany Lightel said of her players. "... I want them to soak it all in. I kept reminding them this is just another softball game. You are here to win a state championship, but I am so proud of you. I didn't get one as a player, so I will take one as a coach."

Michael Beaven can be reached at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ.